Civic police volunteer held for raping schoolgirl

A civic police volunteer was arrested on Tuesday morning on charges of raping a class VII student at Kultali in South 24-Parganas. Police said the accused Palash Das is a resident of Kanksa village and he had been working as a civic police volunteer for the past two years.

According to the complaint of the victim’s family members, the class VII student was kidnapped when she went to attend a religious programme in neighbourhood on Sunday night. The accused had called her aside. He had placed a handkerchief on her face as soon as she came and took her inside a kindergarten school in the vicinity.

The accused had raped her repeatedly and threatened her with dire consequences if she reveals the matter to anyone. He had also threatened her of framing her father under false cases if she opens her mouth.

The girl was in a traumatised state and somehow managed to return home. She fell sick after reaching home and later revealed the incident to her parents. Her parents had also failed to take decision whether to lodge a complaint with the police or not as the accused’s brother is an influential person in the area. Moreover, the accused is too close to the policemen from the local police station.

The victim’s family members finally lodged a complaint with the police on Monday night.

Police went to the house of the accused and arrested him on the basis of the complaint of the victim and her family members. The girl underwent medical test. The youth was remanded in police custody after being produced before the court. The girl was sent to a home as she was in a traumatised state after being directed by the court.

Police ensured necessary support to the victim’s family members as they were suffering from insecurity.